Italy, a hub of history, culture, and gastronomy, also takes center stage in 2025 with its vibrant art programs. From exhibitions in Rome coinciding with the Jubilee celebrations to Bologna’s rich cultural programming as the designated 2025 Art City, and Milan’s dynamic showcases where art, architecture, and design intersect numerous events across the country offer art enthusiasts the chance to explore works by globally renowned artists such as Tracey Emin, Rebecca Horn, Daniel Buren, Shirin Neshat, and many more.
Mark your calendars for the most important art events across Italy and add them to your trips throughout Italy in 2025.
BOLOGNA
Ai Weiwei. Who am I?
Palazzo Fava, Bologna
21.09.24 – 04.05.25
Activist Artist Ai Weiwei in Bologna!
One of the most influential figures in contemporary art, Ai Weiwei presents his first solo exhibition in Bologna, offering art lovers the opportunity to explore his diverse body of work. Held at Palazzo Fava, this extensive exhibition showcases the artist’s creations across various media. Ai Weiwei’s strong critical stance transforms the exhibition into more than just an artistic experience, it becomes a platform for discussing some of the most pressing issues of our time, including freedom, justice, memory, and resilience. The artworks engage in striking dialogues with the historic 17th-century atmosphere of Palazzo Fava, while the artist’s kite sculptures, inspired by the oldest known Chinese animal encyclopedia from the 3rd century BCE, highlight the dynamic interaction between antiquity and contemporary art. The exhibition’s title is drawn from a conversation Ai Weiwei had with artificial intelligence, and with over 50 pieces, including sculptures, installations, videos, and photographs, it offers a profound and multifaceted look into his artistic and intellectual production. Beyond being a purely aesthetic experience, the exhibition also opens up a powerful space for reflection on both contemporary and universal issues through Ai Weiwei’s works. Supported by Fondazione Carisbo, this exhibition marks the beginning of a four-year project aimed at enhancing Bologna’s artistic and cultural heritage. Organized in collaboration with Galleria Continua and curated by Arturo Galansino, the exhibition will be open to visitors until May 4.
Alfredo Pirri. Palace Portrait
Palazzo Boncompagni, Bologna
04.02 – 30.04.2025
One of the most acclaimed figures in İtaly’s contemporary art, Alfredo Pirri seamlessly intertwines art and architecture, inviting visitors on a mesmerizing journey within a historic setting. The exhibition showcases nearly forty works specially designed for the rooms of a 16th century palace built for Pope Gregory XIII. Paintings and installations placed on the palace’s reflective surfaces create a powerful dialogue between the artworks and the surrounding space, transforming the environment into an integral part of the artistic experience. Pirri masterfully characterizes the site, making it an inseparable component of his artistic creation. As he explores the boundaries between discovery and time, space and perception, visitors are offered an unforgettable artistic encounter. Renowned for his exploration of the relationship between perception and materiality, the artist employs innovative materials and diverse techniques in his creative practice. Curated by Lorenzo Balbi and Silvia Evangelisti, the exhibition is open to visitors until April 30.
Easy Irony: Irony in Italian art between the 20th and 21st century
MAMbo – Museo d’Arte Moderna di Bologna, Bologna
06.02 – 07.09.2025
The Bologna Museum of Modern Art is hosting a delightful exhibition!
The exhibition Easy Irony explores the use of irony in Italian art from the 1950s to the present. Showcasing works across diverse media, the exhibition critically engages with political, cultural, and social themes, offering a sharp reflection on society. Irony, as a paradoxical device, is examined in multiple contexts: as a form of play, as a feminist weapon against patriarchy, as a tool of institutional critique, as a medium for absurdity, and finally, as an expression of dark humor. This layered exploration provides visitors with a broad and thought-provoking perspective on irony in contemporary art. Curated by Lorenzo Balbi and Caterina Molteni, the exhibition is open to visitors until September 7.
FLORENCE
Tracey Emin. Sex and Solitude
Palazzo Strozzi, Florence
16.03 – 20.07.2025
Tracey Emin in Florence: A Radical Voice in Contemporary Art!
The most comprehensive exhibition of Tracey Emin ever presented in Italy, Sex and Solitude, is on view at Palazzo Strozzi. Bringing together works from the 1990s to today, the exhibition showcases Emin’s artistic production across various disciplines, including painting, drawing, video, photography, and sculpture. Focusing on themes of the body and desire, love and sacrifice, the exhibition features over 60 works, many of which are being shown in Italy for the first time, alongside new pieces created specifically for this show. Emin’s direct and bold approach, blending strong autobiographical elements with personal experiences, transforms into existential metaphors of sexuality, illness, loneliness, and love. Curated by Arturo Galansino, General Director of the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, the exhibition is open to visitors until July 20.
Thomas J Price in Florence
Museo Novecento, Florence
14.03 – 11.06.25
British sculptor Thomas J. Price Exhibits in Florence!
Renowned for his large-scale figurative sculptures, Thomas J. Price challenges ingrained notions of representation and identity in his work. By delving into the psychological depth of his fictional characters, the artist invites viewers to rethink the symbols, biases, and established values that are deeply embedded in society. With a strong emphasis on the inner world of the individual, Price’s works encourage a deeper reflection on human relationships while also subverting hierarchical structures. Blending traditional sculpting techniques with digital technology, the exhibition integrates seamlessly with Palazzo Vecchio’s permanent collection, bringing together works of various scales. At the center of the exhibition are two monumental outdoor installations: one in the courtyard of Museo Novecento and the other, a striking 3.6-meter-tall golden bronze sculpture, engaging in dialogue with the historic artworks of Piazza della Signoria. Curated by Sergio Risaliti, the exhibition offers a unique opportunity to experience Price’s thought-provoking works in conversation with Florence’s rich artistic heritage. The exhibition is open until June 29.
DANIEL BUREN | Make, Unmake, Remake
Pistoia Musei, Palazzo Buontalenti, Pistoia
08.03 – 27.07.2025
Palazzo Buontalenti hosts a major exhibition by Daniel Buren!
Palazzo Buontalenti presents a comprehensive exhibition dedicated to Daniel Buren, one of the most significant figures in contemporary art. Offering visitors an extensive perspective on the French artist’s creative process, the exhibition focuses on his artistic production from 1968 to 2025. Alongside works specially created for Pistoia Musei, the exhibition also features pieces that highlight Buren’s deep connection with Italy and Tuscany. Revisiting and reinterpreting his projects in Italy from 1968 to the present, Buren invites reflection on the evolving meanings of art over time and the new interpretations generated in different contexts. In this framework, the exhibition’s title, Make, Unmake, Remake, reflects the artist’s dynamic and ever-transforming creative process, which continuously questions and reshapes his works. The exhibition explores how Buren transforms architectural spaces through the use of form, color, and materials, establishing a continuous and lasting dialogue between art and its surroundings. Organized by Fondazione Pistoia Musei, with the support of Fondazione Caript and in collaboration with Galleria Continua, the exhibition is curated by Daniel Buren and Monica Preti. You can experience the exhibition until July 27.
MILANO
FROM CINDY SHERMAN TO FRANCESCO VEZZOLI. 80 Contemporary Artists
Palazzo Reale, Milano
07.03 – 04.05.2025
The Giuseppe Iannaccone Collection at Palazzo Reale!
Palazzo Reale hosts From Cindy Sherman to Francesco Vezzoli: 80 Contemporary Artists, an exhibition bringing together 80 prominent artists and over 140 works from around the world. The exhibition features a selection of artists, including Cindy Sherman, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Nan Goldin, Nicole Eisenman, Kiki Smith, Marc Quinn, Lisetta Carmi, and Francesco Vezzoli. Showcasing works from the Giuseppe Iannaccone Collection, many of which are being presented to the public for the first time. The exhibition delves into themes of the body, identity, multiculturalism, and East-West relations addressing some of today’s most pressing social and cultural issues. Curated by Daniele Fenaroli and organized by the Giuseppe Iannaccone Foundation, the exhibition is open to visitors until May 4.
Shirin Neshat, Body of Evidence
PAC I Padiglione d’arte Contemporanea, Milano
28.03 – 08.06.2025
Shirin Neshat and the evidence of body!
The largest solo exhibition to date by Iranian-born artist Shirin Neshat focuses on her artistic production spanning over thirty years. Bringing together approximately 200 photographs and video installations, the exhibition features works on loan from some of the world’s leading museum collections, including the Whitney Museum, MoMA, Guggenheim New York, and Tate Modern. Neshat, known for working across various media, explores themes of power, religion, race, past and present, East and West, and the relationship between the individual and society, all through a female perspective. Centering the female body in her works, she delves deeply into tensions surrounding belonging and exile, health and mental illness, dreams and reality. Curated by Diego Sileo and Beatrice Benedetti, the exhibition is on view at PAC Milano until June 8.
Yukinori Yanagi. ICARUS
Pirelli HangarBicocca, Milano
27.03 – 27.07.2025
The First Major Exhibition of Japanese Artist Yukinori Yanagi in Europe Opens in Milan!
Recognized as one of the most influential figures in contemporary Japanese art, Yukinori Yanagi presents his first major retrospective in Milan since his participation in the 1993 Venice Biennale. The exhibition brings together significant works from the 1990s and 2000s alongside his most recent creations, offering visitors a rich and diverse selection. Reimagining his monumental installations for the former industrial spaces of Pirelli HangarBicocca, Yanagi creates a profound reflection on power dynamics, borders, sovereignty, and globalization. Addressing themes of nationalism, modernization, and the impact of technology on society, the artist deconstructs and reinterprets established political and national symbols through his work. The exhibition, titled Icarus, draws inspiration from the Greek myth of the figure who flew too close to the sun and ultimately destroyed, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of overconfidence in technology. Yanagi connects this myth to a metaphor for nuclear energy, warning of its potential consequences. Curated by Vicente Todolí and Fiammetta Griccioli, the exhibition is on view until July 27.
Adrian Paci. Your sky was sea, your sea was sky
MUDEC, Milano
27.11.2024 – 21.09.2025
Between the Sea and the Sky: Adrian Paci’s Site-Specific Installation at MUDEC Milan!
Adrian Paci’s site-specific installation for MUDEC, “Your Sky Was Sea, Your Sea Was Sky,” offers visitors a social and political panorama. Using the mosaic technique, the artist applies translucent printed films to the stained glass windows in MUDEC’s Agora, allowing light to filter through and creating a striking and poetic atmosphere within the space. At first glance, the installation appears abstract, yet each fragment is actually a detail taken from photographs published in both Italian and international newspapers, documenting migrant shipwrecks in the Mediterranean. The 250 piece mosaic composition makes the search for freedom, the harsh realities of migration, and the ethical dilemmas we all share visible. You can experience this installation, curated by Katya Inozemtseva and Sara Rizzo, until September 21.
George Hoyningen-Huene. Glamour and Avanguard
Palazzo Reale, Milano
21.01-18.05.2025
Experience George Hoyningen-Huene’s impact on the history of photography!
For the first time in Italy, a special selection of George Hoyningen-Huene’s works invites art lovers to experience his profound influence on photography. Featuring over 100 platinum prints, the exhibition recreates the cultural atmosphere of the 20th century through Hoyningen-Huene’s lens, shaped by classical art and Surrealism. The exhibition not only highlights Man Ray, Salvador Dalí, Lee Miller, Pablo Picasso, and Jean Cocteau, key figures of Surrealism, but also captures iconic moments from Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, including dancers Serge Lifar and Olga Spessivtzeva, alongside costumes designed by De Chirico. Visitors will have a rare opportunity to witness how these legendary figures were immortalized through Hoyningen-Huene’s lens. You can visit the exhibition, curated by Susanna Brown, until May 18.
Leonor Fini, I Am
Palazzo Reale, Milano
26.02 – 22.06.2025
Leonor Fini at Palazzo Reale!
Leonor Fini. I Am is part of Palazzo Reale’s exhibition program dedicated to increasing the visibility of women artists. Born in Argentina, Surrealist artist Leonor Fini explores key issues of contemporary society, including gender, identity, belonging, traditional family structures, and representations of femininity and masculinity.The exhibition presents a diverse selection of paintings, drawings, photographs, decorative objects, costumes, artist books, and documents, highlighting Fini’s multifaceted artistic practice. Curated by Tere Arcq and Carlos Martín, the exhibition will be open until June 22.
Casorati
Palazzo Reale, Milano
15.02 – 29.06.2025
Felice Casorati Retrospective at Palazzo Reale!
A comprehensive retrospective dedicated to Felice Casorati, one of the most influential figures of 20th century Italian art, is now on view. Designed specifically for the halls of Palazzo Reale, the exhibition explores different phases of Casorati’s artistic production. Spanning sculpture, graphics, drawing, and illustration to stage and costume design, the exhibition highlights the artist’s experimental and multifaceted vision. Curated by Giorgina Bertolino, Fernando Mazzocca, and Francesco Poli, the exhibition will be open until June 29.
Pirelli HangarBicocca, Milano
09.10.2025 – 02.2026
Nan Goldin Takes the Spotlight in Milan as a Filmmaker!
Recognized as one of the most influential figures in contemporary art, Nan Goldin presents a striking, lyrical, and deeply moving retrospective. Her work captures intimate glimpses of relationships, everyday life, wild parties, and the struggle between personal freedom and addiction. Blurring the lines between personal and social documentary, Goldin’s photographs offer both raw and poignant reflections on life. Over the past 40 years, Goldin has transformed her photographic practice into moving images, incorporating sound and archival materials to create multilayered narratives. These dynamic compositions unfold across the exhibition space through multiple projectors, offering an immersive and emotionally charged experience. The exhibition delves into themes of portraiture, family trauma, and substance dependency, highlighting the artist’s intimate yet universal storytelling. Curated by Fredrik Liew, the exhibition also features Goldin’s magnum opus, The Ballad of Sexual Dependency. Each work is presented within architect Hala Wardé’s specially designed structures, tailored to enhance the depth and impact of the artist’s vision.
MODENA
Supercars
Museo Ferrari di Maranella
18.02.2025- 16.02.2026
Supercars Exhibition at the Ferrari Maranello!
The Supercars exhibition, focusing on Ferrari’s pioneering role in technological evolution, brings together limited-edition models that showcase Enzo Ferrari’s relentless pursuit of perfection. The exhibition provides visitors with the chance to closely explore engineering masterpieces including the GTO, F40, F50, Ferrari Enzo, and LaFerrari. In addition to being a visual spectacle, the exhibition introduces Ferrari’s One-Off program to the public for the first time. This exclusive program allows Ferrari customers to design a completely one-of-a-kind model tailored to their personal vision. Visitors will not only witness Ferrari’s commitment to engineering and design excellence but also have the chance to explore the Tailor Made customization program, which reflects the brand’s distinct approach to luxury.
PUGLIA
Lorenzo Quinn. Building Bridges
Piazza XX Settembre, Martina Franca, Puglia
04.04 – 01.09.25
Lorenzo Quinn’s monumental work Building Bridges is in Puglia!
The monumental artwork by contemporary Italian artist Lorenzo Quinn, first unveiled at the 58th Venice Biennale, is now set to captivate art lovers in Martina Franca, Puglia. Reaching a height of 15 meters and composed of six pairs of giant hands, the installation symbolizes the universal values of humanity. As a powerful symbol of connection, the hands invite reflection on humanity’s shared existence, while also expressing the desire to build a better world. Representing friendship, faith, help, love, hope, and wisdom, the artwork calls for unity and solidarity, encouraging people to overcome differences and create a more harmonious world. This project is made possible with the support of Martina Franca Municipality and is curated by Felicia Cigorescu. Positioned as a message to build bridges, not walls, uniting societies, nations, communities, and individuals, this monumental installation will be on display until September 1.
ROME
Tony Cragg. Infinite Forms and Beautiful
Terme di Diocleziano, Rome
09.11.2024 – 04.05.2025
Where history meets aesthetics!
Showcasing works produced over the past twenty years by the English sculptor Tony Cragg, Infinite Forms and Beautiful is on view at the Baths of Diocletian until May 5. One of the most prominent figures in contemporary sculpture, Cragg presents 18 pieces made with various materials that connect one of Rome’s most ancient sites to the mysteries of natural life. His biomorphic sculptures, created using different techniques, feature changing forms that create a dynamic dialogue with the monumental space. Placed within the majestic architecture, these works form a subtle contrast while simultaneously linking back to nature and the past.
CHROMOTHERAPY. Feel Good Color Photograpy
Villa Medici, Rome
28.02 – 09.06.2025
Ready for color therapy? A vibrant new exhibition at the French Academy, Villa Medici.
CHROMOTHERAPY traces the historical journey of 20th-century color photography, featuring the works of 19 different artists. Divided into seven sections, the exhibition transports viewers into dynamic, color-saturated worlds where hues strike the retina and spark the imagination. From everyday life to philosophical and political reflections, the show highlights how color has become an essential storytelling element in contemporary photography. The exhibition is curated by Maurizio Cattelan, the artist who made a significant impact on the art world in 2019 with his work Comedian, and Sam Stourdzé, a specialist in the relationships between images in visual arts, photography, and cinema. The exhibition is open until June 9.
Flowers. Art from the Renaissance to Artificial Intelligence
Chiostro del Bramante, Rome
14.02 – 14.09.2025
A visual feast inspired by centuries of botanical beauty and a one-of-a-kind experience!
Bringing together art, science, and technology, Flowers: From the Renaissance to Artificial Intelligence features over 90 works from 10 different countries. The exhibition, which includes pieces by artists such as Jan Brueghel and Ai Weiwei, weaves together universal stories spanning centuries. Various artistic interpretations of flowers, symbolizing both fragility and resilience, serving as expressions of emotion, celebrating beauty, and even acting as silent forms of protest, are presented to art lovers. At the heart of Rome, this exhibition traces the journey of art, culture, and innovation from the Renaissance to the present day, highlighting the captivating power of flowers and how they have inspired artists throughout history. Flowers: From the Renaissance to Artificial Intelligence is on view at Chiostro del Bramante until September 14.
TORINO
SALVO. Arriving on Time
Pinoteca Agnelli, Torino
01.11.2024 – 25.05.2025
Do not miss the most comprehensive exhibition to date of Salvo, a distinctive figure in Italian art!
Salvo’s (Salvo Mangione, 1947-2015) exhibition Arriving on Time focuses on the fundamental cycles in the artist’s paintings. Since the 1970s, he dedicated himself solely to painting, exploring this practice within a conceptual framework. Captivating viewers with his representations of landscapes and still life paintings, Salvo merges the passage of time with everyday life through his use of light and shadow. In an atmosphere where realism and mysticism intertwine, his unique style, thematic and stylistic repetitions, and consistent investigative approach have positioned him as a distinctive figure in the art world. The exhibition brings together his painterly explorations, offering a rich conceptual archive. You can visit Arriving on Time until May 25.
Henri Cartier-Bresson and Italy
CAMERA, Centro Italiano per la Fotografia, Torino
14.02 – 02.06.2025
Henri Cartier-Bresson, one of the most important photographers of the 20th century, is in Turin!
Spanning four decades between northern and southern Italy, this exhibition brings together striking glimpses of various cities through the lens of master photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson. Featuring 160 photographs alongside the artist’s published interviews, books, newspapers, and magazines, the exhibition offers a profound exploration of his documentary approach. Cartier-Bresson’s remarkable use of space, his ability to capture moments at the delicate intersection of reality and fiction, and his mastery of composition take center stage in this showcase. Documenting everyday life in cities like Rome, Naples, and Venice, the artist not only captures the social unrest following World War II but also chronicles the unique traditions and innovations that emerged in the wake of agrarian reform. Organized in collaboration with the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation in Paris, the exhibition presents a rich visual archive and is open to visitors until June 2.
Paul Gauguin. Noa Noa Diary and Other Adventures
Museo Storico Nazionale d’Artiglieria Mastio della Cittadella, Torino
01.03 – 29.06.2025
Get ready to discover Paul Gauguin’s artistic journey!
The Noa Noa Diary and Other Adventures exhibition explores Noa Noa Diary, Paul Gauguin’s book written after his first journey to Tahiti. The exhibition presents woodblock prints, oil paintings, and drawings that accompany the book, capturing the myths and daily life of the Polynesian Islands, vastly different from Europe. Among these, visitors can discover Tahitian Women (1891) and Polynesian Landscape with Hut, two artworks that were nearly destroyed by Polynesian authorities. Additionally, the exhibition features a rich collection of Gauguin’s personal notebooks, sketches, notes on the artworks he sold or exchanged, along with rarely seen watercolor drawings, photographs, and documents. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to gain insight into the vision of one of modern painting’s most innovative artists and to admire his extraordinary masterpieces up close. You can visit the exhibition until June 29.
Rebecca Horn, Cutting Through the Past
Castello di Rivoli Museo d’Arte Contemporanea, Manica Lunga
23.05 – 21.09.2025
Rebecca Horn Retrospective in Torino Rivoli!
The first retrospective exhibition dedicated to Rebecca Horn, who passed away in September 2024, Cutting Through the Past, will be on view at the Castello di Rivoli Museo d’Arte Contemporanea, near Turin. Spanning from the 1970s to the present, the exhibition brings together installations, sculptures, videos, films, and drawings, highlighting the relationship between the body, time, machines, and power. Horn’s multidisciplinary practice, integrating sculpture, performance, and cinema, explores the interplay between body, machine, and memory, often merging with mechanical devices in a disturbing yet poetic way. The exhibition, which centers on the increasingly intertwined interactions between humans and machines, presents a selection where power dynamics, desire, and obsession take center stage. Curated by Jana Baumann and Marcella Beccaria, the exhibition is open to visitors until September 21.
VENICE
Tatiana Trouvé. The Strange Life of Things
Palazzo Grassi, Venice
06.04 – 04.06.2026
Tatiana Trouvé’s The Strange Life of Things Exhibition at Palazzo Grassi!
Tatiana Trouvé’s exhibition, The Strange Life of Things, at Palazzo Grassi is part of the monographic exhibition series that the Pinault Collection has dedicated to contemporary artists since 2012. The French-Italian artist presents a selection of works produced over the past decade, featuring large-scale drawings, site-specific installations, and sculptures inspired by the architectural structure of Palazzo Grassi. This comprehensive exhibition, spanning three floors, takes visitors on a journey between inner and outer worlds, creating an immersive atmosphere where dreams, memories, and images intertwine. Visitors are invited into a spatial, mental, and temporal labyrinth that challenges perception and experience. The exhibition brings together works from the artist’s own archive, alongside major pieces from the Pinault Collection, international museums, and private collections. Curated by Caroline Bourgeois, curator of the Pinault Collection, and independent curator James Lingwood, the exhibition is open to visitors until June 4.
Maria Helena Vieira da Silva. Anatomy of Space
Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice
12.04 – 15.09.25
A Journey into Vieira da Silva’s Artistic World!
Anatomy of Space sheds light on the artistic journey of Portuguese-born French artist Maria Helena Vieira da Silva (1908–1992), spanning from the 1930s to the 1980s. The exhibition highlights her deep connection to Paris’s international art scene, as well as the works she produced during her years of exile in Rio de Janeiro with her husband during World War II. Showcasing Vieira da Silva’s ability to transform surfaces into optical illusions through abstraction, the exhibition emphasizes her unique approach to space and composition. Drawing inspiration from Portugal’s decorative arts tradition, the artist also develops strong ties to Cubism and Futurism. The exhibition materializes the relationship between abstraction and figuration, navigating both real and imagined spaces. Curated by Flavia Frigeri of the National Portrait Gallery in London, the exhibition is open to visitors until September 15.
Sena Arcak Bağcılar
Cover Image: Tracey Emin, © Ela Bialkowska. OKNO studio